What if the Volkswagen you built as a teenager never really left you?

In this episode, we get into the incredible full-circle story of David Lawler and his 1971 Volkswagen Beetle from Southeast England. David bought his very first VW at just 14 years old, poured years into building it, and saw that dream rewarded when the car landed in a Volkswagen magazine in 1995.

But life changes. Priorities shift. The unthinkable happens—and the car is sold. Watching your first show-winning Volkswagen drive away is a regret that never fully fades.

For decades, the Beetle would resurface in David's life, always just out of reach. Nearly 30 years later, he finally gets the chance to buy it back—only to discover it's far worse than he imagined. Rather than restore what was lost, David makes a bold decision: start over and build something entirely new.

The result is a radically re-imagined 1971 VW Beetle—a modern, hot-rod-inspired machine that stands completely apart from anything else in the Volkswagen world. From extensive paint and bodywork, to chop-top modifications, a full roof conversion, and a cartoon-style window treatment, this build rewrites the rulebook. The hot-rod-meets-custom interior seals the deal as a true one-off.

That risk paid off in a big way. The car was selected Top Five at the VolksWorld Show and went on to land the cover of the November 2025 Volkswagen magazine.

This episode covers the emotional journey, the design decisions, the fabrication challenges, and what it means to let go of the past—only to build something even better.

If you love custom Volkswagen Beetles, VW show cars, chop-top VWs, and real stories from the global air-cooled scene, this one is a must-listen.

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